Wallabies return as Brumbies step up Super 14 preparations

Six Qantas Wallabies Spring Tour representatives joined their CA Brumbies teammates this morning for their first training session of the new year, as preparations continued for pre-season trial matches against the Waratahs and Hurricanes later this month.

The entire Brumbies squad assembled for a three-day camp in Sydney over the weekend,but today took to the training field for the first time as a complete squad.
“It’s great to be back. It’s really great to see some new faces and new players and to see the results of the hard work that the guys have put in during the pre-season,” said Wallabies captain and Brumbies scrumhalf, George Gregan.

“We caught up for a few days in Sydney to work on some off-field stuff, in terms of where we want to go looking forward which was a great way to start the year and it’s good to get back on the training paddock to start preparing for the season,” he said.

“The injured guys are coming along well and are certainly on track to play at some stage during the trials,” said Coach Laurie Fisher.

“In terms of preparation I think we’re well ahead of were we’ve been in past seasons(during the pre-season). Our increased repeatability work on the field and our work in the gym will really hold us in better stead for the greater physical demands of the game.”

Fisher said that the team would benefit from the three-day camp, where players and teammanagement combined to plot the future direction and goals for the team.

“We got a lot out of the camp considering that 50 per cent of the players have been with us for less than two years and three-quarters of them have been here for less than four years, so a lot of them haven’t been a part of what has shaped the Brumbies over the years,” said Fisher.

“It gave us a chance to take stock of our culture and values and find out what’s going totake us forward.”

Foundation Brumby George Gregan said that he was looking for a strong start to hiseleventh season with the team.

“I’m looking forward to getting off to a good start, enjoying my football and as always looking to improve. It’s important during the short period of time that I have, to prepare well and give myself the best chance to perform well.”

The Brumbies will play the first of their two pre-season trial matches against the Waratahs at WIN Stadium on Saturday 21 January.